“Borf” might be just a simple sound, but it’s become one of the defining phrases of SPY x FAMILY’s beloved dog, Bond Forger — and a signature phrase for voice actor Kenichiro Matsuda. Alongside Emiri Kato, the voice behind the energetic and lovable Becky, the voice actors shared with the press at Anime NYC 2025 how the show’s unique charm and humor have made their roles so special. From nervous beginnings to deep friendships and unforgettable “borf” moments, the cast members talk about what makes SPY x FAMILY so fun and unforgettable for the fans.
This interview was conducted via interpreter and has been edited for clarity. Questions by Anime Trending submitted by Gerrymelyn Casupang.
Welcome to New York! Do you have any fun stories or experiences from your trip?
Emiri Kato: We actually went to a lot of places on this trip, specifically the John Wick Continental Hotel location and Times Square as well. I basically took a lot of videos while I was out walking about, so I had a lot of fun.
Kenichiro Matsuda: I got to see the Ghostbusters firehouse. I also wanted to see the Brooklyn Bridge, and [when] got to see it, I was like, “Wow, I get to finally see the amazing, famous Brooklyn Bridge in person.”
Emiri Kato: I also met up with a friend who lives here and got to have lunch with them at Central Park.
Anime Trending: SPY x FAMILY is popular globally. How does it feel to be part of the cast in this amazing series, and did you ever think you’d be a part of this series?
Kenichiro Matsuda: I’m very honored to be a part of such an amazingly popular series all around the world. To be honest, I didn’t think that I’d ever be a part of something this big, so I’m very thankful to be a part of it.
Emiri Kato: I was very happy when I was chosen to be Becky. After I was chosen, I decided to read the whole series, and I really loved it. It was a lot of fun, and I was very much looking forward to the recording process. Now that it’s out in the world and everyone obviously loves it, and I’ve seen so many cosplayers even online, I’m even more grateful to be part of such an amazing series.
Why do you think the show is so beloved by everyone?
Emiri Kato: I would have to say the biggest reason is that Anya’s so cute. Of course, Loid is cool, and Yor is also very cool. They’re not a real family by definition, but of course, the more time they spend together, they’re becoming more and more a real family. And of course, Bond joins in as well, expanding their family. I think all of their lives are probably relatable in some way to all the viewers, and that could also be the charm, but in the end, the biggest reason is still Anya’s cuteness.
Kenichiro Matsuda: I believe that Endo-sensei’s character designs are just so good, but also the way he writes is amazing, and it keeps you enthralled in the story. The actual story, if you think about it, is serious and a bit dark, but it’s presented as a comedy a lot of the time, so you feel at ease that there’s no impending doom, and you get to enjoy it. While there’s still serious stuff going on in the background, I think that’s one of the biggest reasons why it’s so beloved.
Do you feel like any aspect of how you approach your voice acting has changed from the beginning of the anime’s production until now?
Kenichiro Matsuda: I feel like I understand Bond a lot more now that more time has passed. Compared to when I first started playing Bond, I feel like my portrayal of him is a little bit more free. I don’t feel as constrained.
I can basically relate to Bond because when I first joined the cast and Bond first joined the family, I was very nervous, and Bond was very nervous. But now we both very much feel at ease with the rest of the Forgers, and I’m having a lot of fun.
Emiri Kato: At first, Becky is a bit unapproachable and a bit prickly, even towards Anya. Of course, as the story progresses, they go from being friends to best friends. When we’re playing our roles, even if Tanezaki-san and I are not at the same mic, I feel that we’re more connected now. She said the same thing as well, so it doesn’t matter how far apart we are — we’re connected in our roles.
If you had the opportunity to give Anya Forger and Becky Blackbell some life advice, what would you want to tell them?
Emiri Kato: I think the main thing that I would tell them is that what brings people together is not exactly money. What brings people together is actually being honest with each other, and the reason Becky and Anya became such good friends is because they’re both so honest. They basically have no lies. They don’t really lie. So I don’t feel like I taught them anything. I believe that they basically taught me that.
Does any of Becky’s personality match your own?
Emiri Kato: The fact that we’re both very honest. I’m a terrible liar.
Anime Trending: You voice Bond the dog. How does it feel to voice him, and how do you prepare yourself for that role?
Kenichiro Matsuda: Bond may be a dog, but he’s very smart. His feelings are pretty similar to a human’s, so I don’t really feel like it’s that different from playing a human character. But he is a dog, so there are parts where he’s much more honest and simple, and he’s also very straightforward. For the role, I basically just stay at home and say “borf borf” a lot by myself.
Emiri Kato: Bond is a dog, but there are very few times in the series that he actually says human words, and that’s something that we, as a cast, always look forward to.
Kenichiro Matsuda: When I look at the script, I try to see if there are any parts where I can actually just say human words, and during the rehearsal or the run-through, I’ll try it out. Usually, it actually goes through.
Do you have any advice for voice actors?
Kenichiro Matsuda: First, watch a lot of things. Not just watching things, but basically consuming all sorts of media. Read a lot of books. Watch a lot of movies. I don’t get to do this much, but travel the world. Go places, experience a lot of things. Broaden your horizons. I think all of that is very important for the experience of playing other characters.
Emiri Kato: I basically feel the same — experiencing a lot of different experiences. But when you also experience a lot of things, obviously, that brings a lot of emotions, different kinds of emotions. You experience happiness, sadness, and pain, and you tend to remember all those feelings, even physically and mentally. Like when you want to cry, your throat starts closing up or gets dry, and I think that really helps when I’m acting. I’ll be able to recreate whatever feelings are needed for me in the role.
What would you say is the most difficult aspect of voicing your character?
Kenichiro Matsuda: I get away with a lot of things playing Bond. Our recording sessions are very free. We actually get away with a lot of things, so I’ll try things out not really expecting them to say okay, but they’ll take the take. So it just makes me think that I can go further next time. But to be clear, I’m talking about Bond.
Emiri Kato: The role of Becky itself is not very difficult for me to play, but she speaks very fast. A lot of the time, I have to say a lot in a very short amount of time, so I end up practicing a lot at home to make sure I make the time slot.
When you first became a voice actor, did you ever imagine one of your key lines would be “borf?” And if you could give Bond some life advice, what would you say to him?
Kenichiro Matsuda: I honestly cannot say that I thought that one of my most memorable lines would be “borf.” I’ve heard that “borf” is popular though, so I’m very grateful that’s the case. It’s such a simple line, so I’m also grateful for that as well.
I would like to tell him that Yor is actually not that scary. He always feels like there’s impending doom and that his life is being threatened when he’s around her. So I’d like to tell him that’s not the case.
Anime Trending: Becky is Anya’s best friend. During the anime’s school scenes, you worked together with Atsumi Tanezaki-san, who voices Anya. What’s it like working with her? Can you describe your dynamic when voicing your characters?
Emiri Kato: When we’re recording, we’re a few mics apart, but we feel connected. Before and after the recording, we usually get together and talk about things like, “What do we want to do with these ad-libs here?” We discuss these things together. And because we play best friends, I think we feel like we’re very deeply connected.
I would love to come to New York again with Anya [Tanezaki-san].
Do you ever get scared or nervous when you’re performing voice acting, and do you have advice for other people about doing voice acting around that fear?
Emiri Kato: When the main cast is together, I don’t think any of us really get that nervous. But there are times when, during a recording session, someone who’s an amazing senior will come to do a guest spot or something, and that makes me nervous. I also feel like I can’t mess up, obviously.
Kenichiro Matsuda: I think I’m perpetually nervous anyway. I think being nervous is actually pretty important. I don’t think you really have to overcome it, but accept that part of yourself. I feel like that makes me even more serious about this role, so I’m sort of becoming friends with my nervousness.
Becky is unique in that she tries to act a bit more mature than she actually is, but still retains childlike elements. How do you work that mixture of maturity and immaturity in your voice acting?
Emiri Kato: Becky loves to watch a lot of dramas meant for an adult audience versus a child audience, and she loves to learn all the harder words used in those things, even though she really has no idea what they mean. In the scripts and in subtitles, a lot of the time, any difficult word is sometimes expressed in katakana, so we know that it’s difficult. Again, she doesn’t understand the words that she’s saying a lot of the time, but she wants to say these words. In playing Becky, I basically try to balance that out a little bit. She’s still a child, but she is enjoying trying to say these new words that she doesn’t understand.
Do you always record alone, or do other cast members casually drop by to hear you voice Bond?
Kenichiro Matsuda: When we’re doing the run-through, we get to record together. But sadly, when the actual recording happens with the rest of the cast, there are times when I am alone doing Bond’s role. A lot of times, Bond is just sort of rolling around in the background or sleeping. Of course, if I get to record with them, I would love to. I definitely relate to Bond a lot of the time.
What do you hope for the future of SPY x FAMILY?
Emiri Kato: As Becky, I really want to see how everyone at Eden College is going to grow from now on. I’m very curious to see when they grow up a grade, like how they will change or how they will grow. I hope that we get to see them older at some point in the story, but of course, I also love them as their small, little selves right now too.
Speaking for Becky, I’m obviously very curious about where the romance between Damian and Anya is going to go in the future.
Kenichiro Matsuda: You don’t mean just Damian? You mean both Damian and Anya?
Emiri Kato: From Becky’s point of view, they are both in love with each other, so she would like to see how their romance ends up in the future.
Kenichiro Matsuda: Speaking for Bond and myself, Bond just sort of wants to stay at home with the Forgers and just live a very peaceful life, rolling around as a dog. I also hope that he gets to just live peacefully from now on, considering everything he’s gone through.
SPY x FAMILY Season 3 will start airing October 4, 2025 JST.
